There are two disabled parking spaces next to the Leigh Woods toll booth which blue badge holders are welcome to use. The Visitor Information Centre is situated just next to them and it and the bridge itself are all on one level. The bridge is 214m or 712ft long.

Inside the Visitor Centre folding stools are available for your use. They are light, have a carry handle and can be used as a walking aid as well as a seat.

There is an enclosed lift to the first floor. Please remember to keep your finger on the button to keep the lift in motion. (We reccommend that users with mobility scooters reverse in as this makes it easier to exit again.)

An accessible toilet is located on the ground floor level.

Visual Impairments

The building is free to enter and has glass automatic doors which open when approached. On the left hand side of the doors there is a glass panel which is used for the display of posters and informational signage. Upon entering the building, the shop and reception desk will be to your left and the exhibition and stairs to your right.

Although the majority of our displays are text based, our knowledgable volunteers are on hand every day to answer your questions about the bridge and talk to you about our exhibition. Many of our Front of House volunteers also work as tour guides or are ex-engineers so they have a lot of information to share and love a good chat! Please also ask if you require orientation or about anything else you'd like to know.

A DVD which is 28 minutes long tells the story of the Clifton Suspension Bridge. It has directional speakers which can be heard most clearly from the mezzanine level. The DVD is narrated by Susannah Harker and includes a number of interviews with bridge staff, historians and local residents. It includes some music and provides a coherent history without audio description.

On the ground floor, a selection of handling objects are included within the 'Engineering' section of the exhibition: a nut from the suspension chains, a bolt with a thread worn by the constant movement of the bridge and a piece of asphalt road surface. We are currently working to develop a tactile model of the bridge, but in the meantime we have a jigsaw model (not to scale) available in the Education Room.

The Visitor Centre has public wi-fi. You may wish to download the Bridge Tales app (available for Apple and Android phones) which includes written and recorded information.

Assistance dogs are welcome!

Hearing Impairments

The exhibition has a large amount of visual content - information and images.

A DVD which is 28 minutes long tells the story of the Clifton Suspension Bridge. Subtitles are not available, but there is an audio transcribed booklet available. The content of the DVD is also available in written form as part of the exhibtion itself.

We regret that we do not currently have a hearing loop.

Assistance dogs are welcome!

Babies and Young Children

Two buggy lockers are available at the entrance to the venue. If your children would rather explore the centre on foot, you are welcome to lock your buggy away and keep hold of a key during your visit.

A family toilet is available. It is equipped with baby change facilities and a step to reach the sink and toilet.

There is a children's bannister on the main staircase to help younger visitors safely negotiate the stairs. A lift is also available. Please remember to keep your finger on the button to keep the lift in motion.

A range of children's activities are available including imaginitive drawing, a magnetic game and a weighbridge. We often have touring exhibitions or special exhibits which are Family Friendly.

Our venue is breastfeeding friendly.

English as a Second or Other Language

All of the information in our exhibtiion is in English. However, information in other languages is available from the front desk. We are currently working to improve the content we provide in other languages.

Our volunteers come from all over the world and speak a lot of different languages. If you would like someone to tell you about the exhibition in another language, please email visitinfo@cliftonbridge.org.uk and we shall advise you of the best time to visit.

Local shops and facilities

Our colleagues at BID Clifton have provided the following access information for Clifton Village:

Hotels

The Avon Gorge Hotel, Sion HillAll public areas of the hotel are accessible by wheelchair. There are 16 bedrooms with step-free access. Further bedrooms are not accessible due to narrow corridors and steps. Please be aware that the bedroom doors are not wide enough for certain types of wheel chairs and it is recommended that you check requirments in advance.

The Rodney Hotel, 4 Rodney PlacePortable wheelchair ramp and access system. Unfortunately it is not possible to get any wheelchairs out in the back garden.

Cafes

Boston Tea Party, 1 Princess Victoria StreetThere is wheelchair access to the ground floor which has the service point and provides a number of seats. Toilets are located on the first floor and must be reached via a narrow staircase. There is no lift access.

Bars and Restaurants

The Avon Gorge Hotel, Sion HillThe main restaurant and accessible toilet are on the ground floor, as well as two function rooms. Two further function rooms on the first floor can be accessed via the lift. The White Lion Bar is accessible via the Bridge Café entrance has a ramp out to the terrace area.